County Down Woman Loses £4,000 In HMRC Impersonation Scam

The Department for the Economy's Trading Standards Service (TSS) is urging the public to be vigilant against financial scams after a County Down woman lost over £4,000 to an HMRC impersonation scam.

In this particular case, the victim received a convincing phone call from an individual claiming to be from HMRC, accusing her of unpaid tax. The fraudster, employing a sophisticated tactic, even involved a second caller posing as a police officer, further pressuring the victim.

Fearful of the consequences, the woman transferred £4,000 to the scammers. Unfortunately, she later discovered that she had fallen victim to a scam and was unable to recover the funds through her bank.

The victim, who was going through a difficult time, experienced significant emotional distress as a result of the incident. She eventually contacted TSS, who assisted her in raising a complaint with her bank and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

Following an investigation, the bank agreed to refund the victim's loss, including interest and compensation.

TSS is reminding the public to be cautious of unsolicited calls and emails, especially those that demand immediate payment or personal information. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the organisation directly using a verified phone number or email address. The victim hopes that by sharing her story she can prevent others from experiencing the same distress. The victim commented: "I wanted to tell my story to prevent this happening to someone else. I'm very happily surprised at the result and would like to thank TSS for all their support and help, it wouldn't have been possible without them. It's a big deal for me, not just about the money but the emotional impact."

Yasmin Johnstone of the TSS said: "This scam was highly convincing particularly as they had cloned the genuine telephone number of a local police station and this serves as a stark reminder of the tactics used by scammers to exploit an individual's fears and trust. If you receive a similar call do not make any payments or share personal information. Instead, contact the organisation directly using verified contact details."

TSS offers the following tips and advice to help avoid falling victim to similar scams:

• Be sceptical of unexpected calls/texts/emails that ask for personal information or payment.

• HMRC, Banks, Government Departments or the Police Service of Northern Ireland will never demand immediate payment, personal details or threaten arrest over the phone.

• Never provide remote access or download any apps to your mobile or computer at the request of a caller.

• Report any suspicious calls or messages to Action Fraud, the UK's National Fraud and Cybercrime reporting center on 0300 123 2040

For further advice or to check if TSS may be able to assist if you have lost money to a scam, contact our Consumerline Team on: 0300 123 6262 or consumerline@economy-ni.gov.uk